Bruins Weekly Recap 3/8 - 3/14

posted by Jon Gallo -
Mar 14, 2019

3/9 Bruins 3 – Senators 2

In the last game of the home stand, the Bruins were up against the last placed Ottawa Senators in a game that should have been an easy win. I guess there really never are easy wins in the NHL, but the Bruins have been the hottest team in hockey, and the Senators, well, they’ve played in some games. Brad Marchand would get the Bruins on the board first in this one, coming on a power play in the second period that was a perfect representation of their season. The Bruins controlled the puck throughout not allowing the Senators to gain possession at all.

The Senators would score the next two goals to flip the score and put the Bruins down by a goal. Looking to come from behind and win for the second game in a row, the game was eventually tied when Chris Wagner was somehow able to get a tip on a Torey Krug shot. Then the last minute magic for the Bruins continued as David Krejci tipped home a Danton Heinen shot with 45 seconds to go in the game to win it for the Bruins.

3/10 Bruins 2 – Penguins 4

Well we knew that the streak couldn’t last forever and eventually the Bruins would lose a game. The Penguins were the team to get it done as they start to heat up like they do almost every year in March. In this game, they came out of the gate as fast as they could as they scored their first goal on the night less than two minutes in and eventually ended the first period with a 2-0 lead. The Bruins would eventually get on the board just over four minutes played in the second period as David Krejci scored in his fourth straight game, this one being on the power play. Late in the period the Penguins would answer back to get the lead back to two with a power play goal of their own.

As the third period got underway, Jaroslav Halak really kept the Bruins in this game with huge saves throughout the period. The Bruins would inch their way closer as they would score with a minute left and Halak on the bench allowing the extra attacker. John Moore would get the goal as he scored on a wrist shot from the point that made its way through traffic in front of the net, past Matt Murray. Needing another goal to tie the game, Halak remained on the Bruins bench, but the Penguins were able to put the puck into the empty net ending the chance at another comeback win for the B’s and ending the 19 game point streak.

3/12 Bruins 4 – Blue Jackets 7

As the Bruins looked to bounce back from the loss to the Penguins that snapped a 19 game point streak, they headed to Columbus where it was a crazy game from start to finish. Exactly four minutes into the game with Columbus on the power play, Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand continued their penalty killing magic as they combined once again for a shorthanded goal, Bergy’s team leading fourth of the season. The rest of the first period was all Blue Jackets as they went on the score three unanswered goals.

The second period was more of the same as the Jackets would add two more goals to make it a 5-1 game. For some reason, I guess it took five unanswered goals to wake up the B’s in this one. They went on to score three unanswered goals of their own as Brad Marchand would score two goals, the second being his 30th of the year, and Chris Wagner would add the other. In the third period the Jackets would end the Bruins attempt at a comeback as they would score again to make it a 6-4 game with 8 minutes to play. While the deficit for the B’s was two, they weren’t completely out of it as Halak went to the bench for the extra attacker, but the Bruins couldn’t break through. Columbus would add an empty netter to seal the win, handing the B’s their second loss in a row.

3/14 Bruins 3 – Jets 4

Heading into the final game of a three game road trip in which the Bruins have lost the first two games, they really needed a win against Winnipeg. Just like they have in the last few games, the Bruins would fall behind as the Jets would score two first period goals. Charlie McAvoy would get the B’s within one just before the end of the first period with a snipe from the slot.

As the second period got underway, the game somewhat shifted, perhaps momentum building from the McAvoy goal. The Bruins would control the tempo of the game in the period out shooting the Jets 19-7. Then exactly halfway through the period Joakim Nordstrom would end his 24 game goalless drought to tie the game.

After a series of chances for both teams, the game would stay tied at two as the third period got underway. In the third period it would be the Jets who would retake the lead with just over 12 minutes to play. From here they would turn up the pressure on the Bruins and add another goal to make it a two goal game once again. Even with the injuries and recent call ups that have been inserted in the lineup, this team still has fight. Charlie Coyle would get his first goal as a Bruin as he got a tip on a Zdeno Chara one-timer to make it a one goal game with less than three minutes to play.

Tuukka Rask would make the skate to the bench for the extra attacker giving the Bruins a chance to tie the game, but they couldn’t fight all the way back again.

After getting a point in 19 straight games, the Bruins have now lost three in a row. While the fight has been there, the skill has not. The B’s are missing some very key players late in the season and hope they can return in time to play a few games before the playoffs start, but if they don’t start getting healthy soon, there could be an issue as the Bruins head into the playoffs.

The Week Ahead

The Bruins will head home for a game on Saturday night at 7pm against the Columbus Blue Jackets as they look for revenge after a 7-4 loss on Tuesday night. They then will head on the road once again for a four game road trip. It will start on Tuesday night at 7pm against the Metropolitan Division leading New York Islanders. Thursday night the B’s will be in action down the road in New Jersey taking on the Devils at 7pm.